Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Black Ops 2 Combat Knife

SpecialsAvailable once Create-a-Class opens at Level 4Takes camo
SpecialsCombat KnifeDedicated weapon artwork is not available.

How do you unlock the Combat Knife?

The Combat Knife is available once Create-a-Class opens at Level 4 in Call of Duty: Black Ops II. It appears when a class leaves a weapon slot empty, so it does not consume a normal weapon unlock. It emphasizes movement, flanks and single-hit melee positioning rather than a firearm attachment build. Its camo track finishes at Skulls (Combat Knife: 5 knife-only Bloodthirsty medals · Ballistic Knife: 2 Bloodthirsty medals · Crossbow: kill an enemy with each of all three bolts in one magazine · Assault Shield: 25 shield kills with no other weapons or lethal equipment). Complete every camo challenge on it and Gold unlocks. Earn Gold on the whole class for Diamond.

UnlockDefault
Takes camoYes
Gold camoComplete every camo challenge on this weapon
Diamond camoEarn Gold on every weapon in the class
Leaving the relevant weapon slot empty equips the Combat Knife automatically. It does not require an Unlock Token.

Reviewed July 27, 2026. Game identity, Pick 10, weapon leveling and the Peacekeeper's post-launch status were checked against Activision material. Current PlayStation availability and the 25-pack bundle were checked against PlayStation Store listings. Class and weapon-specific camouflage requirements were cross-checked against recorded in-game challenge wording. Base multiplayer capacities and weapon identifications were checked against a dedicated BO2 stat reference and IMFDB, with fictional or uncertain designs labeled as such. Crossbow mechanics and legacy camo access were separately checked against historical references and the current Steam Digital Deluxe listing. Setup advice and weapon comparisons are editorial and avoid unsupported damage or time-to-kill claims.

Sources: Activision — Call of Duty 20th anniversary franchise recap · PlayStation Store — Call of Duty: Black Ops II · PlayStation Store — Ultimate Customization Bundle · Activision — archived Black Ops II Personalization Pack release notice · Steam — Call of Duty: Black Ops II · GameFAQs — launch-era Black Ops II multiplayer camo matrix · Call of Duty Wiki — Black Ops II weapon camouflage catalog · Steam — Black Ops II Digital Deluxe content announcement · Black Ops II multiplayer weapon stats reference · IMFDB — Black Ops II weapon identification reference · Call of Duty Wiki — Crossbow mechanics

How does the Combat Knife play in Black Ops 2?

Also written asKnife, BO2 Combat Knife
RoleAutomatic empty-slot melee weapon
Real-world basisGeneric modern tactical combat knife; no verified exact commercial model
StrengthsAvailable from the start by leaving the relevant weapon slot empty; The lightweight melee role supports fast flanks and silent close eliminations
TradeoffsIt has no ranged attack; Head-on approaches are vulnerable to every firearm and require careful route timing
Setup notesThe Combat Knife has no attachments; perks, equipment and route choice define the class instead; Leave the intended weapon slot empty and confirm the knife is held when working its kill milestones
Challenge noteFinish the Combat Knife kill ladder through 200 kills, then earn 10 Backstab medals, 5 Survivor medals, 5 Revenge medals, 5 Backfire medals and 5 knife-only Bloodthirsty medals. For Backfire, knife an enemy, take that enemy's dropped gun, then kill the same enemy with it after they respawn.
Progression tipAfter Kryptek: Typhon, the five advanced challenges become available together and can be completed in any order. Prepare a class and route around the medal being targeted instead of treating every knife kill the same.
Camo tipApproach through cover, commit only when the target is occupied, and leave the lane immediately after the melee animation.
Compared withThe Ballistic Knife adds a retrievable projectile; the Combat Knife is simpler, always available and completely dependent on closing distance.

Every camo, exact unlocks — see the full Black Ops 2 camo directory.

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Combat Knife — common questions

What level does the Combat Knife unlock at in Black Ops 2?

The Combat Knife is available once Create-a-Class opens at Level 4 in Call of Duty: Black Ops II multiplayer. The level cap is 55, and prestige is up to 10, followed by Prestige Master at Level 55.

How do you unlock camos on the Combat Knife?

Camo progress is per-weapon. Black Ops II camo progress is tracked separately on every weapon. The first nine finishes run from DEVGRU through Kryptek: Typhon, followed by Carbon Fiber, Cherry Blossom, Art of War, Ronin and Skulls before per-weapon Gold and class-based Diamond. Assault rifles, SMGs, LMGs and pistols begin with headshots. Snipers use One Shot, One Kill medals; shotguns use one-hit kills; launchers and Specials have weapon-specific ladders. Every camo page lists the exceptions. On the Combat Knife the final tier is Skulls — Combat Knife: 5 knife-only Bloodthirsty medals · Ballistic Knife: 2 Bloodthirsty medals · Crossbow: kill an enemy with each of all three bolts in one magazine · Assault Shield: 25 shield kills with no other weapons or lethal equipment. After that, Gold needs every camo challenge on the weapon done, and Diamond needs Gold on the full class.

Can you unlock the Combat Knife for me?

Yes — our Black Ops 2 Unlock All service covers any prestige up to Prestige Master, max Level 55, weapons, camos and Create-a-Class unlocks handled on supported legacy console accounts, from $19.99. See the service.

Skip the grind

Our Black Ops 2 Unlock All service includes any prestige up to Prestige Master, max Level 55, weapons, camos and Create-a-Class unlocks handled on supported legacy console accounts, from $19.99.

See Black Ops 2 servicesSee exact inclusions on the service page